Corn-sheller



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vNrrsn STATES A AURELIUS V. PITTS AND MARCELLUS coRN-sHELLl-:a

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed April 'o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, AURELIUS V. PITTS and MARoELLUs II. PrrTs, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Marseilles, in the county of La Salle and State of v Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Shellers, of which the following` is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side eleva-tion of the machine, having a portion broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the machine, having its breast-plate, hopper, and iiy-wheel removed. Fig. 3 is acrosssectional view of the machine on line 2 2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow, and having the upper part of the frame broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the breast-plate of the machine. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a single section of the toothed endless apron of the machine. Fig. 6 is a plan View of a single section of the endless apron of the machine, having serrations or ribs formed on its face; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing in detail a portion of the endless belt It.

rlhis invention relates to certain improvements in corn-shellers, the construction and operation of which are fully set forth in the following specication and claims.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame ofthe machine, arranged to support a pair of shafts, P and P, one at either end of the machine, in suitable boxes. Upon these shafts, and between the sides of frame A, are placed chain or belt wheels a and a', a pair being placed on each of said shafts. These wheels bear a pair of endless sectional chainbelts, m, one at either side of the machine, to which are attached the sections of the endless apron R R of the machine, as shown in Figs. l, 3, and 7. Intermediate wheels, a2, may be placed on shafts a a', between their chain or belt wheels, for additional support for the end- 45 less apron' when occasion may require.

At either side of the machine, supported on suitable shafts or studs, which are either journaled or rigidly attached to side beams T, are a series of iianged friction-wheels, Vw, for the 5o support of the upper and engaging surface of the endless apron, which relieve said apron Patent No. 322,964, dated July 28,1885.

2, 1885. (No model.)

from frictional contact with the frameof the machine.

Figs. 2 and 3 represent the endless apron divided into two parts by means of a partition, A2, which parts are shown at It and R. Upon the face of each of the sections of the endless apron exposed at one side of the partition A2 at R are series of teeth or ribs,while the opposite portion of said endless apron (shown at R) is free from teeth or ribs, and may be used as a tread-power to propel the toothed portion of said apron by placing a horse or other animal upon said untoothed portion, similar to an ordinary tread-power, and wheel F would, in such instance, act as a fly-wheel. Power may, however, be applied to the machine by a belt on wheel F, and when the power is thus applied the entire surface of the endless apron may be toothed or ribbed, and arranged either in a single compartment or partitioned into two or more compartments.

In Fig. 1 the endless apron is represented as having one end lower than the other, with its toothed surface traveling in the direction of the arrow. At the lower end, and at a short distance above the toothed endless apron, is a toothed breast-plate. This breastplate consists of a rectangular frame, D, hav-` ing a pair of recessed bars,G, arranged lengthwise along its upper part. Within frame. D are arranged a lseries of cross-sections,0,wh1ch are recessed at their ends to receive the side bars of frame D, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

The sections C have a series of teeth or ribs placed on their lower and engaging faces, and in their upper faces shallow holes orrecesses for the reception of the lower ends ofthe coilsprings E, while the upper ends of said springs rest in recesses in bars G. The springs E thus arranged give downward pressure to the sections C, each acting-independently of the other, and, as the recesses in the ends of said sections are wider than the side bars of frame D, the said Asections are supported yieldingly. The lower IOO frame D is held by suitable bolts or screws.v Immediately above the endless apron R, and at either side of the breast-plate,are arranged side boards, S S, to prevent egress of grain from the sides of said apron. At the upper end of the endless apron R, and between the sides of the frame, is arranged a hopper B, opening at its bottom directly over the said toothed endless apron R. Corn to be shelled is placed in said hopper, is discharged upon said traveling endless apron on the section having teeth, is 'carried forward by said teeth under the toothed breast-plates, and between said toothed endless apron and the breastplates is shelled, the shelled corn and cobs being discharged at thelower end of the machine.

The yielding sections of the breast-plate render it capable of operating alike upon large or small Vobjects that may pass under it, as it will adapt itself to their respective sizes as they pass from section to section.

If desired, the hopper B may be placed at the lower end of the machine, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, and the breast-plate placed at the upper end of the machine, and the movement of the endless apron reversed, when such arrangement shall be considered lbest for the kind of grain or seed which is to be operated upon. The endless apron may be long and a series of such breast-plates used in a train Where desired.

The teeth ofthe sections of the endless apron and of the breast-plate may be of the form shown in'Figs. l; 5, and 7, or ribs used in their place, such as are shown in Fig. 6, as occasion may require.

Having thus described our invention. what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows, to wit- 1. In acorn-Sheller, the combination of the frame A, the sides S S, the endless traveling apron R,vn1ade in jointed sections, with teeth on their engaging-faces, Wheels a a, shafts l? P', frame D, the recessed longitudinal bars G, springs E, and yielding breast formed of the independent cross-bars C, having their engaging contiguous faces toothed, and recessed in each end to receive the frame D, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a corn-Sheller, the breast consisting of the independent contiguous cros`s-bars C, having their engaging-faces toothed and recessed in each end, in combination with the frame D, longitudinallyrecessed bars G, and coilsprings E, as and for the purpose setforth.

3. In a corn-she1ler,V the endless jointed apron R R', and the partition A2, said apron being provided with teeth on one side of the partition for assisting in the shelling operation, and being Without teeth on the other side thereof, and forming a' tread-.power for driving the toothed portion, in combination with the yielding breast constructed as described and shown, all as and for the purpose set forth.

AURELUS V. PITTS. MARCELLUS H. PITTS.

Vitnesses:

Trios. H. HUTcHINs, WM. J. HUroHINs. 

